West Virginia State Senate Candidate Brutally Beaten

The Democrat and military veteran said he suffered eight bone fractures and three lacerations to his face

West Virginia state Senate candidate Richard Ojeda was brutally beaten during a cookout Sunday — just two days before his primary — Ojeda told NBC News.

The Democrat and military veteran said he suffered eight bone fractures and three lacerations to his face in an attack by Jonathan Stuart Porter, a local Ojeda had known since childhood.

Ojeda's primary opponent, state Sen. Art Kirkendoll, said in a statement that he was praying for Ojeda and wished him a full recovery. 

Porter peacefully turned himself in after hiding out in the mountains for six hours, State Trooper Zachary Holden said.

A motive for the assault remained unclear, though Ojeda says it was clearly political.

"I'm challenging the powers that be," he said.

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